Research using a series of victim surveys in 18 countries of the European Union funded by the European Commission has reported (2005) that the level of crime in Europe has fallen back to the levels of 1990, and notes that levels of common crime have shown declining trends in the U.S., Canada, Australia and other industrialized countries as well. The European researchers say a general consensus identifies demographic change as the leading cause for this international trend. by the end of the century they had declined by 40%

well, the worlds still pretty bad. were just sheltered from it here. Go and spend a year in the congo or somewhere like that.
I think the issue is anyway, not wether its more violent or not, but as julias said, theres not much of a system of punishment.
I was a youth worker in naughties and i can tell you, we were all about rewarding bad and antisocial behaviour.
kids know they can literally get away with murder. Go home and threaten to backhand a juvenile whos kicking the crap out of your car. I can guarantee you, he'll know all his rights and have the police down on you like an avalanche if you so much as touch him.